Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-17
Gales aud Sketehes.
AN CHRONOLOGICAL IDYL.
THE GOBLIN MOTH.

1t was COW little room with bright
red carpet. The gaslght WAS reflected
by the glass and polished walnut of three
high bookcases. The only sound was
that of the Professors pen at his desk as
it scratched rapidly along the paper and
added sentences and paragraphs to his
lengthy and exhaustive treatise on 1.-The
Goblin Moth"
Every now and then he would strike a
knotty problem and stop. his pen uplilted.
His brow would knit and his Saxon face
would gather together with the concenira
ton of thought; his short yellow curly
halr would seem to bend over his high
white forehead to admiringly peep at the
working of his faculties. and his placid
blue eyes would gaze sternly through his
spectacles upon the point at issue Clear
ly it was useless for the Goblin mo- h to
attempt to conceal anything from his un
relentng pursuit. In his neat gray suit
he was a big. square-framed man of 50.
the Professor. A young lady who once
flirted at him before he was married had
named him her Goth"
And he was completely absorbed in his
work. All science held for him the facsc-
nation which the search after truth exerts
upon every true student. But his chosen
fed was entomology. Bugs were his
hobby.
sounding in desultorv and aimless kind
of way in an adjacent room, ceased its
echoes. There was the rustling of a
brown silk dress and the Professors wife
entered the library. She stopped, looked
over at the Professor. hesitated. and
then sat quietly down in an easy chair
without word.
She was plump little woman who
walked with graceful dignity. She had a
composed, thong ,tful face, with fine dar k
eyes which could evidently be deeply
sympathetic as well as very merry. There
was firm look about her mouth lines.
which indicated selfpossesslon and self
reliance. Altogether she seemed very
sensible and Enthusiastically pretty.
When she sat down she picked up a
book at random from a stand and opened
it in the middle. She began to read in a
somewhat distracted. halt. interested way
Very soon it descended slowly to her lap
and she fell to thinking. She looked
straight ahead of her at the floor for a
long time; then she leaned her head back
and gazed fixedlv at one of the arabesques
in the fresco of the ceiling. Several
times she looked over at the Professor
wistfully. She yawned once and looked
a little tired and bored. She had appar-
emily nothing to do that she wished to do
She evidently wanted the Professor.
She sat still for while longer. Then
she picked up an evening paper to read
it over again. The rustic of the paper
attracted the Professors attention and he
looked around.
"Ah! Is it YOU. dear?" he said pleas
antly.
She went over to him and looked down
at his work. Her hand strayed TO his
forehead and smoothed the cur.s.
"How are you getting onp" che said.
"Finely-splendidly A week more ana
it will be finished"
ut will never be finished" she said
ruelully. slipping down to seat on his
knee.
"Oh, but it will. See. have only
Inns observations to analyze and finish
the experiments on the last lot. and then
why it is done"
And then you will not work any more
at night ?"
VERY little There is only that paper
for the next meeting and the report Tor
the year to do. That will not take long
Not long. my little Aphis," he said
iocoselv as he kissed her on the cheek.
The Aphis was the prettiest bug he knew
of.
She twined her arms around his neck
and laid her cheek beside his.
"Oh, deare, | do love you so," she
murmered earnestly, but somewhat ir-
reevanilv.
mot more than do you, my treasure, :"
he said tenderly.
He talked with her for a little while.
and she was bright and happy; But very
soon she caught his eve wandering over
and she kissed him and duti!ully rose.
You will not work late." she SAID,
half pleadingly. "See! Ii is IL O'Clock,
and you have been writing since T."
mo: 10 minutes my dear. Not 10
minutes"
"Surely P" she asked.
"Surely." She kissed him again and
went out.
But the bronze clock on the mantle had
struck midnight halt an hour agone be
fore the Professor stopped his work and
went thoughtfully to bed. and even then
puzziing question followed. and did
not leave MIN until he fell asleep.
He was IS and she was %. They had
been married year. They were deeply
in love-at first-and for months after
their marriage he had not been able to
think of ANYTHING except her. But now
they were 'old married folks" he naturally
studies and his hobby. He talked a good
deal with her during meal times-asout
bugs-and she was dutitully interested,
though the subject was one which, had
not the Professor been interested in it,
might have not aroused her ardor. After
the Professor sat down at his desk she
knew that he Was q fixture there until